• Dave Newell graduated from the University of North Florida in 1984 and began his insurance career in 1987, as a claim representative with a large property and casualty insurance carrier. In 1990, Dave moved to Tallahassee to continue his career as a field claim representative. In 1997, Dave obtained his property & casualty license and became a producer with a large local independent insurance agency. In July of 2008, Dave joined FAIA being the Citizens’ Liaison for FAIA, and in September 2011 added the director of education to his slate of responsibilities. In May of 2017, he added responsibility for workforce development and the Good Works Fund. During Dave’s career, he has gained considerable knowledge and expertise in both the carrier and agency side of the insurance business. He has served as a board member, Past President, and Catastrophe Chair for the local board in Tallahassee. In 2001, he held the position of Insurance Chair for the United Way Campaign.
• Kyle Ulrich, CAE began his career at the Florida Association of Insurance Agents in 2004 and has led the organization’s political and legislative advocacy efforts since 2013, most recently as the senior vice president of Government Affairs. During his tenure, the association helped numerous independent insurance agents and candidates win elections to the Florida Legislature in both the House of Representatives and the Florida Senate, which has significantly strengthened FAIA’s political influence. Under Kyle’s leadership, FAIA has advocated for and passed numerous legislative and regulatory reforms and has also defeated adverse legislation. Notably, the association has been the driving force behind legislation such as agent licensing modernization, assignment of benefits reform, and doing away with the diligent effort requirement for commercial lines.

Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

Get a FREE digital copy of the newest edition of the Wisconsin Professional Agents magazine here.

PIA of Wisconsin

Ryan Butzke CIC, CISR 

Ryan is a P&C producer at Northbrook Insurance Associates Inc. with 22 years of experience in the insurance industry.  Ryan is the current President of PIA in Wisconsin and a past President of IMAGE of WI.  He believes attaining the CIC & CISR designations from The National Alliance is key to a producer selling success.  Ryan also completed The National Alliance School of Producer Development in 2002 at FSU.  His interests include anything outdoors, WI sports teams, & spending time with family.   

Brenda Steinbach

Brenda is the Education & Convention Director, she has been with PIAW for 38 years. She is the driving force behind PIA Wisconsin’s hugely successful education programs and annual convention. Arranging dates, locations, topics, speakers, food, CE credits, schedules, audio/visual and the myriad of other details can only be accomplished by someone who is extremely well organized and focused. She's an expert at the organization’s internal procedures and is always looking for ways to make the dues and program investments more valuable.

Pete Hanson, CISR

In 2018 Pete was recruited from Anchorage, Alaska, where he served as CEO of a trade association in the hospitality industry. A native of Madison, Pete has 20 years of experience in Wisconsin government and government relations. He also brought to PIAW fourteen years’ experience in trade association management. 

Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

Develop environmental awareness and understand how to help businesses manage and transfer their environmental exposures with the NEW Certified Environmental Strategist Self-Paced Course!

Learn More!

Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

The Outstanding CSR of the Year competition started in 1991 to honor customer service representatives and account managers who have made significant contributions to the insurance and risk management industry. The competition is sponsored by the Society of Certified Insurance Service Representatives (CISR) and the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC)—proud member organizations of The National Alliance.

We encourage you to nominate your best customer service representatives and account managers to compete for the Outstanding CSR of the Year award. The competition is open to any insurance customer service representatives or candidates primarily responsible for customer service regardless of affiliation or professional designation. Candidates interested in participating in the competition may also nominate themselves.

“Transferable Skills are learned from experience which includes prior careers, education, volunteer work, or personal encounters. What are the top three skills you transferred from outside the insurance industry to your current job role? Discuss how you leverage your skills, continue to develop and evolve them, and how you transfer your expertise to others to ensure perpetually exceptional customer service.”

Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

Learn about the many different update options, topics to help you get your annual update or finish earning your designation.

• James K Ruble Online MEGA Seminar – Mix and match topics and change your selections on your own.
• On-Demand MEGA – A self-paced online video program of some of our most popular James K. Ruble sessions to take at your own pace.
• Instructor-led Online CIC, CRM, CPRM, CISR, and CSRM designation programs.
• Newly Revised Self-Paced CISR Online Courses.
• Refreshed participant PROfile experience.

Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

Learn more about the CISR High School Program and schedule a demo for your school! 

Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

For information on joining IMCA, visit www.imcanet.com

For information about Channel Harvest Research, visit www.channelharvest.net

• Peter van Aartrijk, CIC (“R-trike,” as in “bike”) is founder of Fairfax, VA-based insurance marketing-communications firm Aartrijk. He started his career as a newspaper reporter, where he learned how to question the status quo. He has worked with insurance carriers, agents, brokers and related industry business partners for decades. Peter and his Aartrijk associates support insurance organizations seeking to innovate and create a new employee and customer brand experience.
• Amy Hourigan is the director of marketing and communications at HAI Group, a carrier that specializes in providing insurance, risk management services, and professional development training to the U.S. multifamily affordable housing industry. A 25-year marketing veteran with both agency- and client-side experience, Amy serves on the board of the IMCA and is the former co-chair of the organization’s promotions and communications committee.
• Kevin Jenné is the research director for Channel Harvest Research and Aartrijk. He has previously led research and insights teams at Liberty Mutual/Safeco Insurance and Washington Mutual Bank. He holds the Insights Professional Certification (Master level) from the Insights Association. Reach him at [email protected].

Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

Part 1: Understanding an Insured's Contract

Part 2: Additional Insureds and Certificates of Insurance

Part 3: Contractors and the Commercial General Liability Policy

The PROFocus Contractors course will be held December 16-17, 2021.  

• Allen Messer, CIC, CPCU brings technical skill, initiative, and experience to bear on the complex problems of insurance and risk management.  He began his insurance career in March of 1971.  He has worked for several different insurance companies in various capacities and has been involved in the independent agency system as a producer and agency owner. Allen currently consults agencies, companies, risk managers, and attorneys as well as instructs various seminars and live webinars.  He earned his CPCU designation in 1981 where he received the Distinguished Graduate Award for attaining the highest academic average in the Nation.  He earned his CIC designation in 1977 and serves as an Educational Consultant and is a National Faculty member of The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research.
• Cathy Trischan, CIC, CRM, CPCU has been with the E&K Insurance Group in Eatontown, New Jersey since 1996, and currently serves as Director of Commercial Underwriting.   She began her insurance career upon graduation from Rutgers University in 1987.  She has worked as a claims adjuster for a major property and casualty carrier as well as in the commercial departments of several New Jersey agencies.  In addition to her work with E&K, Cathy provides education and consulting services to other agents and brokers.  She is a National Faculty member of The National Alliance, speaking in the CIC, CISR, and Ruble programs.  She also serves as a mentor for new CIC and CISR faculty.  Cathy is a regular presenter for various agents’ associations and other organizations and has taught both pre-licensing and continuing education courses.  She has written courses and articles on various insurance topics.  A firm believer that one should never stop learning, Cathy holds several professional designations including CIC, CRM, and CPCU.
• Jay Williams, CIC, CRM, CRIS, MLIS, AIP, AAI, ACSR is the Director of Faculty Development, a National Faculty Member, and an Educational Consultant for The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research. He earned his CIC designation in 1996 and his CRM designation in 2004.  He is a veteran of the insurance industry, starting his career in 1979. His experience includes 21 years in the agency business, nine years at the Florida Association of Insurance Agents, and seven years as an insurance company and PEO executive. Jay also served as the interim CEO for Applied Client Network, the user-group association for agents using Applied Systems platforms. Jay has been teaching formal insurance classes for over 20 years, including both technical insurance and E&O loss control classes for FAIA. He was part of the IIABA Loss Control Working Group for 5 years and also served on the Professional Liability Committee. His experience on the agency, association, and company sides gives Jay a uniquely rounded perspective on the insurance industry. His most recent position was the CEO of a construction risk wholesale operation. In addition to his work as an insurance educator, Jay serves as an expert witness, a consultant to insurance companies, associations, agencies, and industry-related partners, and an E&O auditor.

Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

Part 1: Understanding an Insured's Contract

Part 2: Additional Insureds and Certificates of Insurance

The PROFocus Contractors course will be held December 16-17, 2021.  

• Allen Messer, CIC, CPCU brings technical skill, initiative, and experience to bear on the complex problems of insurance and risk management.  He began his insurance career in March of 1971.  He has worked for several different insurance companies in various capacities and has been involved in the independent agency system as a producer and agency owner. Allen currently consults agencies, companies, risk managers, and attorneys as well as instructs various seminars and live webinars.  He earned his CPCU designation in 1981 where he received the Distinguished Graduate Award for attaining the highest academic average in the Nation.  He earned his CIC designation in 1977 and serves as an Educational Consultant and is a National Faculty member of The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research.
• Cathy Trischan, CIC, CRM, CPCU has been with the E&K Insurance Group in Eatontown, New Jersey since 1996, and currently serves as Director of Commercial Underwriting.   She began her insurance career upon graduation from Rutgers University in 1987.  She has worked as a claims adjuster for a major property and casualty carrier as well as in the commercial departments of several New Jersey agencies.  In addition to her work with E&K, Cathy provides education and consulting services to other agents and brokers.  She is a National Faculty member of The National Alliance, speaking in the CIC, CISR, and Ruble programs.  She also serves as a mentor for new CIC and CISR faculty.  Cathy is a regular presenter for various agents’ associations and other organizations and has taught both pre-licensing and continuing education courses.  She has written courses and articles on various insurance topics.  A firm believer that one should never stop learning, Cathy holds several professional designations including CIC, CRM, and CPCU.
• Jay Williams, CIC, CRM, CRIS, MLIS, AIP, AAI, ACSR is the Director of Faculty Development, a National Faculty Member, and an Educational Consultant for The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research. He earned his CIC designation in 1996 and his CRM designation in 2004.  He is a veteran of the insurance industry, starting his career in 1979. His experience includes 21 years in the agency business, nine years at the Florida Association of Insurance Agents, and seven years as an insurance company and PEO executive. Jay also served as the interim CEO for Applied Client Network, the user-group association for agents using Applied Systems platforms. Jay has been teaching formal insurance classes for over 20 years, including both technical insurance and E&O loss control classes for FAIA. He was part of the IIABA Loss Control Working Group for 5 years and also served on the Professional Liability Committee. His experience on the agency, association, and company sides gives Jay a uniquely rounded perspective on the insurance industry. His most recent position was the CEO of a construction risk wholesale operation. In addition to his work as an insurance educator, Jay serves as an expert witness, a consultant to insurance companies, associations, agencies, and industry-related partners, and an E&O auditor.

Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

Part 1: Understanding an Insured's Contract

The PROFocus Contractors course will be held December 16-17, 2021.  

• Allen Messer, CIC, CPCU brings technical skill, initiative, and experience to bear on the complex problems of insurance and risk management.  He began his insurance career in March of 1971.  He has worked for several different insurance companies in various capacities and has been involved in the independent agency system as a producer and agency owner. Allen currently consults agencies, companies, risk managers, and attorneys as well as instructs various seminars and live webinars.  He earned his CPCU designation in 1981 where he received the Distinguished Graduate Award for attaining the highest academic average in the Nation.  He earned his CIC designation in 1977 and serves as an Educational Consultant and is a National Faculty member of The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research.
• Cathy Trischan, CIC, CRM, CPCU has been with the E&K Insurance Group in Eatontown, New Jersey since 1996, and currently serves as Director of Commercial Underwriting.   She began her insurance career upon graduation from Rutgers University in 1987.  She has worked as a claims adjuster for a major property and casualty carrier as well as in the commercial departments of several New Jersey agencies.  In addition to her work with E&K, Cathy provides education and consulting services to other agents and brokers.  She is a National Faculty member of The National Alliance, speaking in the CIC, CISR, and Ruble programs.  She also serves as a mentor for new CIC and CISR faculty.  Cathy is a regular presenter for various agents’ associations and other organizations and has taught both pre-licensing and continuing education courses.  She has written courses and articles on various insurance topics.  A firm believer that one should never stop learning, Cathy holds several professional designations including CIC, CRM, and CPCU.
• Jay Williams, CIC, CRM, CRIS, MLIS, AIP, AAI, ACSR is the Director of Faculty Development, a National Faculty Member, and an Educational Consultant for The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research. He earned his CIC designation in 1996 and his CRM designation in 2004.  He is a veteran of the insurance industry, starting his career in 1979. His experience includes 21 years in the agency business, nine years at the Florida Association of Insurance Agents, and seven years as an insurance company and PEO executive. Jay also served as the interim CEO for Applied Client Network, the user-group association for agents using Applied Systems platforms. Jay has been teaching formal insurance classes for over 20 years, including both technical insurance and E&O loss control classes for FAIA. He was part of the IIABA Loss Control Working Group for 5 years and also served on the Professional Liability Committee. His experience on the agency, association, and company sides gives Jay a uniquely rounded perspective on the insurance industry. His most recent position was the CEO of a construction risk wholesale operation. In addition to his work as an insurance educator, Jay serves as an expert witness, a consultant to insurance companies, associations, agencies, and industry-related partners, and an E&O auditor.

Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.